New York, New York

Who are you?

An adventurer at heart, I used to itch to travel and meet the unknown far away from my native Germany. When I came to New York in my twenties, I fell in love with the city and the freedom of expression I felt there. 17 years later, I live and love in Brooklyn. I work at a museum that specializes in Tibetan Buddhist art and I'm using the pandemic lockdown to build a co-creative event space with my partner. My adventures have shifted more towards hopefully gaining a little wisdom, being a good citizen, and living in the moment as much as I can. 

What’s the name of your mixtape?

New York, New York

When did you get it?

It was the summer of 2003, right before I left for NYC. I received it as a farewell gift on one of those warm summer nights our group of friends would spend over drinks at a cafe in the old town of Erlangen, probably after seeing a show or a film. 

Who did you get it from?

I got the tape from Martin Rehbock, a friend and filmmaker, who was part of the marvelously creative and fun community of theater and film aficionados in Erlangen/Nürnberg at that time. 

What does it mean to you?

I remember being surprised because Martin and I hadn't been all that close and, you know, making a mix tape takes time and commitment. I was very touched that he made this for me. I've listened to it many times over the years is one of the very few tapes I kept through many moves. The tape feels like an anchor back to a very specific and beautiful time and community, which I left behind.